Did you know? Fast Facts Friday – The Rodeo Isn’t Just for Cowboys!
What was that you heard about…a bike rodeo? You may think that involves cowboys/girls on bikes with lassos but alas, that’s not what they probably meant (in most cases anyway!). To help clear up any questions about what a bike rodeo is, and what you can expect if you attend one, today’s Fast Facts Friday is all about the bike rodeo!
1) A bicycle rodeo, a concept which originated with seminars and lectures sponsored by Kiwanis clubs, is a clinic that helps teach children the importance of riding a bicycle safely and what skills and precautions they need to develop to have a safe time on their bicycles. (Wikipedia)
2) Interested in helping to organize a bike rodeo on your own area? There are some great resources out there, including detailed organizer guides to take the reins to spearhead your own community bike rodeo, or you can reach out to trusted organizations like Safe Kids USA and BikeLeague.org. (Cornell University Bicycle Safety Specialist)
3) Since 1989, Safe Kids has partnered with Bell Sports to promote helmet use, safe wheel-riding behavior and safer riding environments. In 2005, the two entities introduced the Ready to Roll program, which included the bike rodeo kit and a step-by-step guide to conducting a community-based wheel safety rodeo. These events bring together Safe Kids volunteers, public safety personnel and educators to show children how to prevent injuries from wheeled sports. (National Bicycle Safety Network – NBSN)
4) You may wonder – is my child the right age for something like this? Well, the main focus of a bike rodeo is cycling safety for young cyclists, from age kindergarten to approximately 14 years old. (Bicycling Life)
5) There are bike rodeos happening all the time, you just need to keep your ears open. For example, this Saturday (June 5th) there’s a bicycle rodeo open to children ages six through 12 who reside in the North Fond du Lac School District in WI, or if you’re in the North Bend and Snoqualmie, WA area maybe you’re already planning on attending the sixth annual Tanner Jeans Memorial Bike Safety Rodeo which drew about 2,000 participants last year. With over 360 state and local Safe Kids coalitions, there is a good chance there is a bike rodeo near you! (Safe Kids USA)
